Goldman Sachs Is Taking Google to Court to Make Them Delete an Email

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Chairman and CEO Lloyd Blankfein, left, and Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan, right, walk away from the microphones after speaking to members of the media outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington.
((AP PHOTO/PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS))

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Goldman Sachs is going after Google over the destination of an email. A contractor working for banking giant accidentally sent some very confidential data to a stranger's email address and now Goldman Sachs is going through a court, hoping a judge will order Google to delete the email and protect their all important secret information. Goldman will argue this is a "needless and massive" breach of privacy.

Goldman tells Reuters that the email was sent when the contractor was testing changes to an internal process related to reporting requirements from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The contractor apparently entered the beginning of the email address, then @ and g, but instead of auto applying to "@gs.com," the email field corrected to "@gmail.com." A simple email snafu, but the contents were gone to a mysterious location and could not be retrieved.

"Emergency relief is necessary to avoid the risk of inflicting a needless and massive privacy violation upon Goldman Sachs' clients, and to avoid the risk of unnecessary reputational damage to Goldman Sachs. By contrast, Google faces little more than the minor inconvenience of intercepting a single email - an email that was indisputably sent in error," said Goldman Sachs of the accidental email.

Goldman has not released the exact topic of the email, only saying it occurred on June 23 and the email had "highly confidential brokerage account information" in it. They have not confirmed how many of their clients were affected by this accidental email.

In order to track down who may now have the data, Goldman will need Google's help. Thus far, Google "appears willing to cooperate" as long as the court order is issued. Google will not delete any emails without a court order.